Where To Get Your Spook On This Halloween Weekend

Costume or no (or family in tow), here’s what to do in Dallas this weekend to scare up a good time.

By Sarah Eveans, Kyle Kearbey, and Samantha Criswell

We know you. You’ve got your costume all figured out, and it’s a good one (no boring bagged jobs for you). All you need now is somewhere to go. We can help. We’ve compiled a list of Dallas’ hottest events, whether you’re looking for celebrities, great music, a family event, or even a new dog. There are a few events happening on the days before and after, so you’ve got lots of options to make it a boo-tiful weekend.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

Do the Deux. Why? Because it’s new and it’s super cool. Head to the swanky spot in Mockingbird Station for pre-Halloween festivities and beats by DJ Flip. P.s. There’s also a private masquerade party in the “soft lounge.” Entrance granted with secret password. Sorry, we don’t know it. Might have to do a little flirting with the bartender to figure that one out. 10 pm. Deux Lounge.Monster Mash Bash at Lotus. Start the Halloween festivities early at Lotus’ Monster Mash bash. Get the VIP treatment and lounge on oversize couches with bottle service, or dance the night away to DJ David Austin. A cool grand prize goes to the winner of the costume contest, but sore losers need not fret; there are shot specials all night long. Oct 29, 9 pm. Lotus.

Wicked Masquerade Ball. If swanky nightclubs and bottle service are your thing, check out the Wicked Masquerade Ball at AMPM. As if we needed another reason to buy that sexy Halloween costume, the sexiest costume wins a weekend trip for two to the Mirage hotel in Vegas. The best costume takes home $1,000. It sounds like we have 1,000 reasons to make an appearance. Tickets are $15 in advance (at any Spirit Halloween store) and $25 at the door; $50 for VIP. Oct 30, 9 pm–2 am. AMPM Lounge.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

August Dog Rescue Halloween Adoption Event. We’ve got personal ties to this one; August Dog Rescue is where we found our Shih Tzu soul mate, Charlie. If you’re interested in getting a dog, stop by this event, where lovable foster pups are available for you to pet and adopt. Best of all, they will be in their Halloween finest. Oct 31, 11–4 pm. Gold’s Gym, 2425 McKinney Ave. www.augustdogrescue.org.

Cobra Starship, All Time Low, and Boys Like Girls. If seeing a concert isn’t what you usually do on Halloween, we think it’s time to rethink the holiday. Put your best costume on and go see Cobra Starship, a fun band from New York who claims they were formed after the lead singer was bitten in the neck by a cobra. Seems unlikely. No matter, we’ll still go because we love to hear “Good Girls Go Bad” and “Hot Mess.” Boys Like Girls and All Time Low also perform. Oct 31, 3 pm. Nokia Theatre.

Cretia’s Halloween Party. Three reasons to party at Cretia’s (in a costume) this weekend: $500 awarded to the best costume, bottle service awarded to second place, and a Cretia’s gift card for the third-place winner. Boo-ya. Cretia's.

Cyclone Anaya’s Halloween Costume Contest. We can’t think of a better Halloween combination than creative costumes and margaritas. Sit back and watch your friends and strangers make fools of themselves—or join in the madness. First prize wins a $300 Cyclone Anaya’s gift card, second prize is a $200 gift card, and third prize is a $100 gift card. Just think of all the margs you could buy with your winnings. Oct 31, judging at 10 pm. Cyclone Anaya’s Addison and Cyclone Anaya’s Oak Lawn-Uptown.

Fright Fete. If you’re the kind of person who turns your nose up at the idea of a sheet as a Halloween costume or orange beer, the Fright Fete is going to be much more your speed. Lite Dallas transforms the Fashion Industry Gallery into a spooky but spectacular place to hang out, plus there’s a “ghoulishly glam” Halloween costume contest (the other option: black cocktail attire), food from Food Glorious Food, drinks from Bacardi, and music from the Phonophreaks. Proceeds benefit Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Oct 31, 9 pm–1 am. Fashion Industry Gallery.

Ghostland Observatory. The Austin-based band has a sound that music experts have difficulty explaining, so this calendar maven will not attempt it. According to their MySpace page, their sound is reminiscent of “a robot making love to a tree.” Now before you move on to the next listing, keep in mind that they have received some great notices, even appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and the Austin-American Statesman named them “band of the year” in 2006. At the very least, aren’t you curious about what a robot making love to a tree sounds like? We can’t think of a more fun way to spend Halloween. Listen for “Sad Sad City” and “Danger Lover.” Oct 31, 8 pm. Palladium Ballroom.

Take the kids in the walk-through pumpkin house at the Dallas Arboretum.
photography courtesy of the Dallas Arboretum

Great Pumpkin Festival at the Dallas Arboretum. Now that’s it’s not 5,000 degrees outside, it’s time to visit the Dallas Arboretum. There are more than 150,000 blooming fall flowers, including salvia, coleus, and chrysanthemums. But the autumn bonus is the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, with more than 25,000 pumpkins and gourds, and the Pecan Grove, with a walk-through pumpkin house (picture time!). On the weekends, don’t miss the live music and the Rootbeer Saloon, where snacks and root beer floats await. Through Nov 1. Dallas Arboretum.

Halloween at 55 Degrees Wine Bar and Bistro. We are all about free stuff—especially when there are no strings attached. If you are going to dress up for Halloween, show up to 55 Degrees and get a free glass of wine. That’s right, just for being your cute-in-a-costume self, you get a free glass of wine. While you’re there, check out the Rhythm Method Band. You might also win a prize for the best female, male, or couples costume. Oct 31, 7:30 pm. 55 Degrees Wine Bar and Bistro.

Halloween at the Old Monk. We love the Old Monk at Halloween. It’s so spooky. And we also like the drinks there. We’ll be wearing our costume tonight, because there’s a chance we could win the contest and get $250 (or $100 for best group costume). DJ Golden Era takes care of the music. Oct 31, 7 pm. The Old Monk.

Halloween Under the Stars. The madness begins with a costume party under the outdoor tent with food and drinks (6-10 pm). Afterward, head inside to hear special guest DJ Sid Vicious tear it up from 10 pm-2 am.Aura.

Hallo-Wine Trail. You can keep the candy; we’ll take wine for our treat, thank you very much. This third annual event features wine from eight local wineries (several of which are within walking distance of one another), food, a souvenir wine glass, a bottle of wine, a costume contest, and a murder mystery to solve along the way. There’s nothing spooky about it, which is just how we like it. 11–5 pm (ticket pick-up at 10 am). Start of the trail: 805 N. Main St., Grapevine. 817-488-6789. www.grapevinetexasusa.com.

Happy Hallow Hour at Iron Cactus. The amazing view of downtown and more than 80 types of tequila are enough to get us to Iron Cactus any day of the week, and with live music and drink specials we will definitely be there this Halloween (in costume, of course). Three bucks gets you a glass of wine, a well drink, a beer, or a house margarita. That’s scary cheap. Oct. 31, 10 pm. Iron Cactus.

Midnight Costume Contest at Chill. Some people can’t stay out past midnight. (Our younger sister, for example. Or Cinderella.) But we can (woot), so we’ll be at Chill’s midnight costume contest on Halloween. After we win, we we’ll probably be hanging out on the 2,000-square-foot-patio enjoying one of more than 30 different wines. Will we see you there? Oct 31, midnight. Chill.

Nightmare on Elm Street at Thrive. We love Mario Lopez. He was such a cutie on Saved by the Bell, and those dimples still melt our hearts. And have you seen him on the new season of Nip/Tuck? Hello, hottie. If we still had a locker, his poster would be hanging in it. But because we don’t, we'll celebrate Halloween with him. While we stalk Mario (in our Kelly Kapowski costume, of course), we'll be dancing to resident DJs Joe Ramirez, Joe Vega, and Jammin Joe. $20 cover. Oct 31, 9 pm. Thrive Nightclub.

NYLO Vamp: A Vampire’s Ball. We can’t get enough of the Twilight series, and we secretly watch The Vampire Diaries. Basically, we love all things vampire. That’s why we’re so excited about A Vampire’s Ball at NYLO. The best-dressed vampire wins a weekend trip for two to New Orleans, and second place wins a weekend stay at NYLO Plano. The ball features a funky DJ, and ladies in costume get in free. We’ll see you there—dressed to kill (ha). Oct 31, 9 pm–2 am. NYLO Plano.

State and Allen’s Annual Halloween Party. If you are in the mood for over-the-top costumes and a view of Uptown’s finest, check out State and Allen’s Halloween party. Halloween-themed Bacardi drink specials give you the liquid courage you need to enter the costume contest at midnight. If you like to people watch, last year’s patio had “an amazing view of all the broken-winged fairies and angels as well as the one-shoed nurses and school girls roaming the streets looking for where they parked the car,” according to State and Allen’s blog. Awesome. Oct 31, 9 pm. State and Allen.

There’s No Place Like ’Za: Hotel ZaZa Halloween Costume Contest. Dust off your old Dorothy costume and head over to Hotel Zaza for its Wizard of Oz-themed Halloween celebration. In addition to Oz-themed drinks and décor, French cutie DJ Guillaume keeps the party going until 2 am. Costumes are encouraged, and Oz-themed costumes are eligible to win prizes. We will be there, and our little dog will be, too. Tickets required. $20. Oct 31, 9 pm. Hotel Zaza.

Unleashed Halloween Party. You worked hard on Fido’s pirate costume. Show him off at this event. The Unleashed Indoor Dog Park is throwing a Halloween dog carnival, complete with face and fur painting, a petting zoo, trick-or-treating for your kids, a pumpkin-carving contest, and a pet costume contest. Kids and dogs are welcome. Oct 31, 2–8 pm. Unleashed Indoor Dog Park.

Witches at La Duni. Start your Halloween off on a spooky and delicious note at La Duni NorthPark. The La Duni witches give kids and adults a proper scare, but never fear—the La Duni folks have conjured up a brunch that should please both guys and ghouls. Yep, we went there. Anyway, adults can dine on migas or enchiladas, mimosas, and Witches sweets; kids get eggs, meat, Witches sweets, and a Wicked brew bar. Reservations only. $15 kids; $25 adults. 10:30–11:30 am. La Duni NorthPark.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Pumpkin Carvin’ Bar Brawl at Barcadia. If you want to get one more night out of your Halloween costume before you throw it in the back of your closet, Barcadia’s Pumpkin Carvin’ Bar Brawl is a must. If a pumpkin-carving contest with no rules isn’t enough to drag your hungover self to Barcadia, $4 you-call-its all night and 24 beers on tap should do the trick (or be a treat). While you are there, fit in a game of skeeball or play Pac-man at the vintage video game arcade. Nov 1, 7 pm. Barcadia.